The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were jokingly thanked for bringing England害羞草研究所檚 notoriously inclement weather to a drought-stricken Outback town on Wednesday in a rain-drenched visit to Dubbo during their Australian royal tour.
The former Meghan Markle brought banana bread that she baked in Sydney on Tuesday as a gift to a farming family outside Dubbo who were struggling to feed their cattle and sheep through two years of below-average rain.
害羞草研究所淲hen she heard she was coming to a family home, she had to bring a plate, so it was lovely,害羞草研究所� farmer Elaine Woodley said, referring to a dish to be shared.
The pregnant American former actress and her husband, Prince Harry, got their hands dirty throwing cotton seed onto hay used to feed the cows because of a lack of pasture.
Heavy rain started falling when the royal couple arrived later at a Dubbo park for a community picnic, but thousands of cheering well-wishers remained enthusiastic.
害羞草研究所淎s your royal highnesses are aware, our region has been hit by a terrible drought,害羞草研究所� Mayor Ben Shields told the drenched crowd draped with waterproof ponchos and holding umbrellas, who erupted in laughter.
害羞草研究所淪o we害羞草研究所檙e very pleased that you can bring some of that English weather with you today, and hopefully it will bring some relief to the farming families,害羞草研究所� Shields added.
While rain in recent weeks has been welcome, much more is needed to repair the economic and environmental ravages of the extended dry spell.
Drought conditions in New South Wales state this year have been the most widespread since 1965.
Meghan held an umbrella over Harry as he gave a speech, acknowledging the hardships the drought brought to the rural community and urging drought victims not to suffer in silence.
The crowd applauded when Harry touched on his own mental health struggles following the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in a car crash in a Paris tunnel in 1997. He was 12 at the time. Harry, now 34, revealed in an interview last year that he did not seek counselling until he was in his late 20s.
害羞草研究所淵ou are all in this together and, if I may speak personally, we are all in this together,害羞草研究所� Harry said. 害羞草研究所淏ecause asking for help was one of the best decisions that I ever made. You will be continually amazed how life changes for the better.害羞草研究所�
The prince ended by thanking Dubbo for its invitation and for sharing its stories, adding, 害羞草研究所淎nd the rain was a gift.害羞草研究所�
Drought relief charity Drought Angels director Natasha Johnston commended the couple for their empathy.
害羞草研究所淭o have them recognize that our farmers are hurting, and show up here, it害羞草研究所檚 an honour,害羞草研究所� Johnston said.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been unbelievably tough. We害羞草研究所檝e had families who can害羞草研究所檛 put food on the table, who can害羞草研究所檛 afford everyday basics, who can害羞草研究所檛 afford water to fill their tanks,害羞草研究所� she added.
On arrival at Dubbo airport, the couple appeared delighted when 5-year-old Luke Vincent, who has Down Syndrome, hugged them both and ruffled Harry害羞草研究所檚 hair and beard.
Luke害羞草研究所檚 school principal Anne van Dartel said she had told the students that they were not to reach out to the royals. She suspected Harry害羞草研究所檚 beard reminded Luke of his favourite celebrity, Santa Claus.
害羞草研究所淚 was very concerned once he started rubbing Prince Harry害羞草研究所檚 face and his hair, but Prince Harry was completely gracious and was so polite and realized what was happening and (Luke害羞草研究所檚) infatuation with his beard,害羞草研究所� van Dartel told Seven Network television.
Luke told later told Nine Network television that Harry had surpassed Santa in his estimation.
Related: Prince Harry and Meghan start Aussie tour with baby gifts
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Harry and Meghan are on a 16-day tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.
The main focus of the tour is the Invictus Games, which start in Sydney on Saturday. The sporting event, founded by Harry in 2014, gives sick and injured military personnel and veterans the opportunity to compete in sports such as wheelchair basketball.
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McGuirk reported from Canberra, Australia.
Kirsty Wigglesworth And Rod McGuirk, The Associated Press
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